“Our team and staff are excited to take on an ambitious schedule,” Dorenkott said. “And, one we believe will position us for success at Big Tens and NCAAs. “We had some significant breakthroughs throughout the summer and are looking to build on them starting this October.”

Ohio State will kick off the season on the road at Kentucky Friday, Oct. 11. The Buckeyes return home for the Scarlet vs. Gray exhibition (Oct. 18), which is followed by a co-ed dual with Kenyon College Friday, Oct. 25. Last season, the Kenyon women’s squad took the national runner-up spot at the 2013 NCAA Division III Swimming and Diving Championships.

The Scarlet and Gray welcome Virginia Tech, Cleveland State and Denison on Friday, Nov. 1. A week later Ohio State will face its first Big Ten competition of the season when the group travels to West Lafayette, Ind., to take on Purdue and Northwestern (Nov. 8). The Buckeyes will face Ohio University in a home dual scheduled for Saturday, Nov. 9.

Perhaps the highlight of the squad’s home schedule will take place Nov. 22-24 when the Buckeyes host the Ohio State Invitational at McCorkle Aquatic Pavilion. Four of the five teams competing – Florida, Kentucky, Virginia, Purdue and Ohio State – placed within the Top 30 at the 2013 NCAA Championships.

Following winter break, Ohio State will return to competition on the road vs. Toledo (Jan. 11). The Kenyon Winter Invitational is next on the agenda and will take place Jan. 17-18 in Gambier, Ohio. Kenyon, Oakland, Cincinnati and Ashland are all schedule to attend the invitational along with the Buckeyes.

A pair of double-dual meets will help round out Ohio State’s regular season. First the Buckeyes will travel to Ypsilanti, Mich., to face Eastern Michigan and Ball State (Jan. 25), and then the squad will return to Columbus for a showdown with Big Ten foes Michigan and Nebraska (Jan. 31-Feb. 1).

The Buckeyes will once again close the regular season with the Ohio State Invitational, Feb. 8-9. Following the invitational, Ohio State will travel to Minneapolis, Minn., for the Big Ten Championship meet (Feb. 19-22).

The NCAA Last Chance Meet is scheduled for March 9. Qualified swimmers and divers then have the opportunity to travel to the 2014 NCAA Championships, taking place March 20-22 in Minneapolis, Minn.

Last season, Ohio State maintained a four-year run of Top 5 Big Ten finishes with a fourth-place effort. At the meet, Shannon Draves, a member of Dorenkott’s first recruiting class, defended her Big Ten title in the 200 butterfly. The Buckeyes ended the season in 28th-place at the 2013 NCAA Championships.